Die



` Dec. ze, 1939. A.. F. RANDALL 2,185,094

Dec. 26, 1939. A. F. RANDALL DIE 6 Sheefs-Sheet 3 IBI Filed July 26, 1938 A. F. RAN DALL Filed July 26, 1958 DIE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 i' w 'I w j! l N IVD/mm Dec. 2.6, 1939. A. F. RANDALL DIE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 26, 1938 lrpi'lLmr: Hikari/EMM Dec. 26, 1939. A, F, RANDALL 2,185,094

DIE i Filed July 26', 1958 6 sheets-sheet s Patented Dec.y 25, 1939 UNiTEo s'rAres PATENT DIE.

l York ,Application .liuiy 26, 1938, Serial No. 221,306

9 lClaims.

This invention relates to dies for cutting, perforating or otherwise marking sheet material, and more particularly to a die for ornamenting cut-out shoe upper sections.

In the manufacture of shoes, particularly Womens shoes, it is customary to apply ornamental designs to the shoe uppers, such designs being usually applied to the cut-out sections of the uppers before they are lasted. Where such designs comprise perforations, indentations and/or cut outs, it isnecessary not only accurately to locate the perforations or out outs, but also to support the shoe upper sections so that the perforating, indenting or cutting instrumentalities operate uniformly and eiiiciently, producing clear-cut openings or markings without distorting or injuring the shoe upper sections.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a die which satisfies the aforementioned requirements and which is of simple design and construction, having a minimum number of parts, and which is 'reliable and efficient in operation.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a die having interchangeable gauging means, each providing a clamping member or mask for the shoe upper section Which may be readily replaced, thereby permitting diiferent sizes and types of shoe upper sections to be operated upon by the ornamenting instrumentalities Without the necessity of making extensive adjustments.

Further objects Will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

f Fig. l is a top plan View of a die constructed `'in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

3 isa plan View of a shoe upper vamp ornamented by a die constructed in accordance with the f present invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the gauge plate of the die shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 isa top plan vie-W of another form of gauge plate adapted for use in conjunction with the die'shovvn in Figs. 1 and'Z;

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of another form of die constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. Tis a side elevation of the die shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 6 8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a top plan View, on a reduced scale, of the transparent gauge plate or panel constituting a part of the die shown in Figs. 6 to`8;

Fig. 10 is a top plan View of a die embodying a third form of the invention;

Fig. 1l is a section on the line Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a die embodying another form of gauge plate;

Fig. 13 is a side or edge View of the gauge plate shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a section on the line iii-iii of Fig. l2;

Fig. 15 is a top plan View illustrating another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 16 is a side elevation, with parts broken away and shown in section, of the die shown in Fig. 15.

In accordance with the present invention, a die having the usual ornamenting instrumentalities and stripping `means is provided. with a clamping plate or mask consisting of or comil-H 0i prising a transparent member supported so as to be movable toward and away from the stripping means and ornamenting instrumentalities. The transparent member may consist of any suitable type or sheetl material, such as Celluloid, any of the various cellulose derivatives, a synthetic resin, a heavy fibrous sheet impregnated or other- Wise treated 4to impart a substantial degree of transparency, or the like, and one or both faces of the transparent member may be provided with gauge lines or marks by means of which a shoe upper section or the like sheet material to be operated upon may be accurately positioned relative to the ornamenting instrumentaiities.

Where the transparent member possesses sufficient rigidity and strength to besch-supporting and capable of withstanding the shocks to which it is to be subjected, it may be used. alone, aithough, if desired, a frame member or the like support having an opening for the reception of such transparent member may be provided, but in either case the construction and arrangement is preferably such that the transparent member is permitted at least a slight movement toward and away from the ornamenting instrumentalities. To this end any suitable supporting means may be provided so long as such means permit the shoe upper section or the like sheet material to be positioned between the transparent member and ornam-enting instrumentalities so that the sheet material and transparent member may be brought into operative relation with the ornamenting instrumentalities. If desired, the transparent member may loe formed with one or more openings, shaped arranged to accommodate the individual ornamenting instrumentalities or the entire group, depending `provided for holding a positioned shoe upper section or the like` securely in place until after completion of the ornamenting operation.

Referring to Figs. l to 5, the embodiment 4shown therein comprises a base which consists of a substantially rectangular metal block l (Fig. 2) having a flat plate 2 secured to its upper surface by screws 3, the plate 2 being formed with an extension member 5 which projects outwardly beyond the rear edge of the block I, as shown in Fig. 2. The block I is formed at its rear edge with a recess t (Fig. 2) in which is secured the front edge of a plate 8 which provides a bracket adapted to cooperate with the extension member 5 in supporting a gauge mask or clamping plate lll in operative relation to the ornamenting in strumentality presently to be described.

The ornamenting instrumentality comprises a die plate I2 (Fig. 2) mounted on the base and ing of a layer or pad of sponge rubberr i6, is i disposed on the die plate I2 and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner, the stripping i member being formed with openings through which the cutting members lli project. The thickness of the stripping pad is such that its top surface is normally substantially flush with the cutting edges of the members I4, thus providing a depressible work support for a shoe upper section or the like material W, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The gauge mask or clamping plate IIJ comprises a rectangular piece of sheet metal I8 formed with a substantially rectangular opening |9 (Fig. 2), and a substantially rectangular panel of Celluloid or other transparent, preferably non-frangible, sheet material 29 nts against the marginal portions of the opening I9, being held in position by a sheet metal frame 2| which is rigidly fastened to the panel 29 and the plate I8 by rivets 22. Since, as here shown, the ornamenting instrumentality consists of a group of three cutting members i4 which are arranged to define a triangle, the transparent panel 2|) is preferably formed with a triangular shaped opening or cut-out 23 similar to but somewhat larger than the triangle defined by the cutting members It. The opening 23 is arranged so that its edges surround the cutting members Ill when the work W is brought into operative engagement therewith, but if desired the opening 23 may be dispensed with, in which case the cutting members I4 will form their own cut-outs or openings 23a (Fig. 5) the rst time the assembled die is used.

The clamping plate is yieldingly supported in close proximity to the stripping pad I6 so that it cannot be displaced laterally relative to the base by an arrangement comprising a plurality of depending stems 24 (Figs. l and 2) which are rigidly secured at their upper ends to the rear end of the plate I8, their lower portions being slidably mounted within apertures formed in the extension member 5 and bracket 8. At their lower ends the stems 24 are provided with enlarged heads 21 (Fig. 2) which are yieldingly held against the underside of the bracket 8 by coil springs 28 superposed about the stems between the extension member 5 and the plate IB, the springs 28 being normally effective yieldingly to hold the entire gauge plate at the proper level above the stripping pad and cutting members, and the heads 2'? on the lower ends of the stems providing stops to limit the upward movement of the plate IS under the inuence of the springs 28.

Although any suitable means may be provided so that the operator may raccurately position the work W between the panel 29 and cutting members l, a preferred means consists of a set of As here shown by way of illustration, the work W (Fig. 3) consists of a shoe vamp having a curved line of stitching 3| and since it is usually thepractice to provide an ornamentation or fenestratedesign in a xed relation to the line of stitching 3|, .the latter may therefore be used as a datum line. Accordingly, the gauge lines 38 may be shaped to conform with at least a portion of the line of stitching 3E, and their position relative to the cutting members I4 is such that when the work W is positioned between the strip-per pad and masking plate with the gauge lines 3i? accurately superposed on the corresponding portions or" the line of stitching 3|, the cutting members It will form a group of cutouts 32 in the desired location. The gauge lines 3o are preferably made by scoring the panel 2|]` by means oi a stylus or the like instrument and lling'in the groove thus produced with a suitable pigment or ink which may be of a color contrasting with that of the work. Although it is only necessary to form gauge lines on one face of the panel 2i), if desired such linesmay be formed on both sides.

In operating the die the work W is rst positioned between the mask plate lil and stripper pad it so that the gauge lines ll'accurately register with the lines of stitching 3|, and with the work thus positioned the die vmay be placed in position between the head and work-bed of a l press. When the press is operated its head forces the mask plate Il! downwardly and the underlying shoe upper W is forced into operative engagement with the cutting members I4 which produce the` cut-outs 32 (Fig. 3). cutting operation the mask plate I9 is effective to hold the work W at against the stripper pad It and due to the relatively large area oi contact between the work W and the mask plate lll, the latter not only provides, in effect, a'reinforcement for the vwork W which prevents it from undergoing an appreciable distortion; or strain, but also is effective to maintain-"that portion of the work W corresponding to the opening 23 properly tensioned during the cutting op-y eration. When the pressure on the mask plate is released it moves upwardly under the influence or the springs 28 and the work Wis stripped from the cutting members I4 by the resilient pad it which. of course, was compressed during the cutting operation. With the parts restored to normal position (Fig. 2) the .ornamented work W may be easily removed and a new piece inserted.

Theembodiment shown in Figs. 6 to 9 is in some respects similar to that above described. In this embodiment the plate I8 is formed with an opening I9 and a U-shaped rabbeted `iframe 34 is riveted in position against the marginal During the portions surrounding the opening I9. The frame ,u

34 provides a pocket into which may be slid a substantially rectangular transparent panel 2do provided with gauge lines @il and formed with an opening 23 shaped and arranged to accommodate the cutting members Hi. The panel 29a is releasably retained in position by a spring ringer 35 formed integral with the frame 34, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The panel Zim may be removed and replaced simply by iiexing the linger upwardly and sliding the panel edge wise out of or into the frame 3.4i.

Advantageous features of this construction are that differently marked panels may be interchangeably used, and furthermore if a panel 'its is marked to be used lor a right, the same panel may also be used for a lett merely by removing the panel, reversing it and replacing it, it being noted that such change may be easily and quickly made.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. lll and ll is also in some respects similar to the previously described embodiments, except that the transparent panel Zlib is fastened directly to the plate i8' by rivets 22, the use oi a trame member such as shown in the previously described embodiments beingy dispensed with; This embodiment further illustrates the use of a plate i8 having an opening lilo and a panel 2819 having a shape approximating that of a shoe upper' vamp to be operated upon, and also the provisiony of extensions lZa and ltd at the front of the die plate and stripper pad, these parts serving to support the tongue of a vamp during the ornamenting operation.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. l2 to 14 the sheet metal plate Ita is formed with a plurality of spaced openings 59a which provide passage- Ways for the cutting members it or other ornamenting instrumentalities, and a transparent panel Elle is suitably secured to the underside of the plate lad, the panel 23o being provided With gauge lines 3s arranged to lie within the areas defined by the openings ld, as shown in Fig. 12. Although any suitable means may be used to secure the plate and` panel in assembled relation, the particular arrangement herein shown comprises a plurality of depending apertured iugs d@ formed integral with the sides of the plate .98a and correspondingly located apertured lugs 4| (Fig. le) formed integral With the margins of the panel 20c, the apertures receiving bolts 42 or the like fastening elements which are eective to hold the parts in properly assembled relation.

Although openings may be preformed in the panel 20c to accommodate the cutting members, it is unnecessary, since the i'irst time the mask plate is used the cutting members will form their own passageways, as previously explained in connection with Fig. 5. A particularly advantageous feature of this construction .resides in the fact that the panel 2te may consist of a light sheet or a lm of transparent sheet material such as Cellophane, translucent paper or the like, in which case it may be desirable to provide the upper face of such a sheet with a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive or the like (in addition to or in place of the lugs and fastening elements) in order to hold the panel in position against the underside of the plate lBa.

In Figs.` l5 and 16 I have 4shown a mask plate which comprises a relatively heavy sheet or panel of transparent material corresponding generally in size and shape to the plate i8 of the embodiments shown in Figs. l, 2 and 6 to 8, the panel 45 being formed with an opening 23 to upper section W is visible-to the operator and hence the arrangement is conducive to a spe-edler and Amore accurate positioning of the Work.

While I `have shown and described different desirable embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the .pur-

pose of illustration and that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts,` as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, maybe made Without departing from the spirit and scope f of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A die of the class described having operating fel-5 instrumentalities and clamping means for holding a shoe upper sectionor the like flatwise in position relative to said operating instrumentalities while being operated upon by the latter, said clamping vmeans including a substantially flat work-engaging piece of transparent material having means defining a gauge for positioning said shoe upper section relative to said operating instrumentalities, and a resilient stripper element for supporting said upper section.

2. A die of the class described having operating instrumentalities and a clamping means including a transparent work-engaging gauge member positioned to cooperate With said operating instrumentalities so as to hold a shoe upper section or the like ilatwise in position relative to said operating instrumentalities.

r3. A die of the class described having operating instrumentalities, Work-supporting and stripping means and a clamping plate comprising a Work-engaging piece of transparent sheet material supported for movement on a rectilinear path toward and away from said stripping means and operating instrumentalities, said piece of transparent material havingone or more openings shaped and arranged to accommodate said operating instrumentalities when in operative engagement with the shoe uppersection or the like.

4. A dieof the class described having an ornamenting instrument, Work-supporting and stripping means, and a gauge mask comprising a work-engaging piece of transparent sheet Inaterial Vhaving position-indicating 'means shaped to correspond with a portion of a shoe upper section or like sheet material to receive ornamentation and arranged so as to indicate the position of the shoe upper section relative to said ornamenting instrument, said piece of transparent material having an opening shaped and arranged to accommodate said ornamenting instrument when in operative engagement with the shoe upper sectionA or the like, and means for yieldingly supporting said mask for movement on a rectilinear path toward and away from said stripping means and ornamenting mstrument and for nor- -mally maintaining said mask at the limit of its zns ting means, and clamping means comprising a transparent work-engaging gauge plate cooperating with said stripping means to hold a portion of the shoe upper section flatwise under tension during the ornamenting operation, said plate having an opening shaped and arranged to accommodate said cutting means When in operative engagement with the shoe upper section or the ike.

6. .A die of the class described having operating instrumentalities and clamping means for holding a shoe upper section or the like flatwise in position relative to said operating instrumentalities, said clamping means including a substantially at plate having an opening, a transparent apertured Work-engaging panel closing said opening, and means for removably securing said panel in position on said plate.

'7. A die of the class described having operating instrumentalities, stripping means and clamping means comprising a substantially flat plate having anopening, a transparent apertured Workengaging panel opposite said opening, said panel having thereon indicia serving as a gauge for use in positioning a piece of sheet material relative to said operating instrumentalities, and means slidably and removably securing said panel in position on said plate. i

8. A die of the class described having operating instrumentalities, stripping means andV clamping means comprising a substantially flat plate having an opening, said plate being mounted to move toward and away from said operating instrumentalities and stripping means on a rectilinear path, a generally U-shaped frame member on said plate disposed about said opening and dening a panel holding pocket, a transparent apertured work-engaging panel opposite said opening with its marginal portions slidably mounted in said pocket, and means for releasably retaining said panel Within said pocket.

9. A die of the class described having, in combination, a base, a Work-engaging and ornamenting instrument on said base, a resilient Worksupporting stripper member mounted on said base and surrounding said instrument, and a Work-clamping mask mounted on said base for` movement toward and from the same, said mask comprising a piece of transparent sheet'material provided With Work-positioning means to register with a part of the Work so as to locate the latter relatively to said instrument preparatory to operation of the die, said transparent sheet being adapted to engage the portion of the Work surrounding said instrument When the die is operated thereby to clamp and hold said surrounding portion against said stripper member.

ARTHUR F. RANDALL. 

